A report by ESPN's Chris Mortensen earlier this week said Ben Roethlisberger was privately questioning whether he would be able to return to the field in 2020 after missing most of this season with an elbow injury.
Mortensen later walked back his report, saying the Steelers remain optimistic regarding the status of their franchise quarterback and Roethlisberger himself does, in fact, feel he will play in 2020.
Just to drive that point home on Christmas Day, Roethlisberger released this statement on Twitter after first issuing a Merry Christmas to everyone.
P.S. Contrary to recent reports out there about my football future and my ‘uncertainty’ about playing again, I am working hard and am more determined than ever to come back stronger and better than ever next year!
— BigBen7.com (@_BigBen7) December 25, 2019
That is more in line with everything else that has been said and done regarding the health of the 37-year-old quarterback, who appeared in just six quarters this season before he was shut down.
The Steelers have rebounded from a 1-4 start without their two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback to get to 8-7 going into Sunday's game at Baltimore. They are one of three teams still alive for the sixth, and final, playoff spot in the AFC.
LOLLEY'S VIEW
This is in line with everything I've been hearing about Roethlisberger's recovery, which was why the Mortensen report was laughable.
Roethlisberger has been around the team a lot since his surgery has healed. And he's been very involved. That's not been the act of a guy who isn't determined to come back.
